School board OKs joint Cat-Dog swim team

Starting next winter, Columbia Falls High School students will have the opportunity to compete against other Montana high schools in the swimming pool.

The School District 6 board of trustees on April 9 approved a proposal brought by parents and swim team organizers for a cooperative swim club between the Columbia Falls and Whitefish high schools. The vote was 6-1. Larry Wilson was absent.

The Whitefish School Board approved the same proposal on April 10. The measure will go to the Montana High School Association’s executive committee in May.

According to the memorandum of understanding approved by the school boards, the Columbia Falls-Whitefish Cooperative Swim Club will be sanctioned by the Montana High School Association for three school years starting in fall 2012.

Columbia Falls will be the host district, but the swim club organization will be responsible for entirely funding the program. Estimated costs include $4,581 for a head coach, $1,000 in Montana High School Association fees, $1,800 in pool fees and $3,852 for transportation. The total is $11,162.

Practices will take place at The Wave Aquatic and Fitness Center, in Whitefish, on Monday through Friday from 6-8 p.m. from mid-November to mid-February. No home meets are expected for the first season.

Swim club organizer Courtney Babcock told the school board she has commitments to cover all the costs for three years and enough dedicated swimmers to cover all the events. A survey of Whitefish and Columbia Falls students found that 30 students would be interested in joining the team.

Mike Nelson, who serves as head coach for the Columbia Falls’s summer swim team and assistant coach for the Wave Ryders, spoke to the Whitefish school board last month. 

“We have kids that are in high school or are close to high school that are looking for an opportunity to swim,” Nelson said. “We have good swimmers in Columbia Falls and Whitefish.”

Swim club supporter Jenni Cheff noted that the summer swim team organization in Columbia Falls has been self-funded for more than 30 years and has strong backing in the community — it will host the state meet this year.

“If at the end of three years we ask for money, you could say no,” she said.

Several board members had questions about other costs to the school district, including liability insurance. School district clerk Dustin Zuffelato noted that the district will have more exposure but wasn’t sure how that would impact the district’s insurance policy.

The swim team would be covered the same way other school sports and activities are covered, school superintendent Mike Nicosia explained. Participants are required to sign a release agreement stating that they have insurance to cover injuries and that they understand the school district will not assume financial liability for accidents.

“We require all students to have their own insurance,” he said. “We couldn’t afford it without that.”

Nicosia also addressed the suggestion that the school district might be cutting five high school sports next school year.

“I don’t expect to see them on the chopping block, we have alternatives,” he said, warning that budget difficulties could be worse the following year.

Board member Dean Chisholm pointed out that Columbia Falls High School athletic director John Thompson will pick up all the extra work,

“He already works too hard,” Chisholm said.

Board member Barb Riley, who cast the lone vote against the swim team, explained that in the 17 years she’s served on the board, she’s never seen it this hard.

“We’ve always tried to save student activities,” she said.

Riley explained that the swim club would be the first pay-to-play activity at the school, “which flies in the face of the Wildcat Endowment Fund.” She also worried about the public’s perception if the school board added a sport while proposing a mill levy.

“The timing is bad,” she said.

Board member Gail Pauley looked at the bright side.

“This opportunity may not come up again,” she said.